Nn Judges Seek Relief From Busiest Courts In Va.

NEWPORT NEWS — People summoned to one of the district courts in Newport News should prepare for a long wait. The courts have become so bogged down it's taking longer and longer for cases to be heard.

In fact, the city's District Court system is the busiest in Virginia. Only Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Arlington rank higher than Newport News in the total number of new cases assigned per judge.

But last year, when it came to actually hearing cases, Newport News District Court stood alone. Judges James H. Harvell III, Joan T. Morris and David F. Pugh each heard an average of 38,210 cases in their respective courtrooms.

That's thousands more than the state average of 27,503. And, Harvell said, if early 1998 statistics are an indication, the numbers will continue to rise.

So he and his colleagues are saying: Help!

``We have gotten to the point where we have to consider another district judge,'' said Harvell, the chief judge. ``Our dockets are on the increase. Already they're up over last year, which was the highest year we've ever had.''

The higher volume, he said, stems from an increase in the number of police on the streets in Newport News, which results in more arrests. The federal government has helped pay for the extra officers.

``It all funnels into the same thing,'' he said.

It's not just a problem for judges, Harvell said. People coming to court also have to stay later and later.

``Once when I was on vacation, the substitute judge was there until 7 p.m.,'' he said, ``and court starts at 9 o'clock.''

If the General Assembly approves a fourth district judge for the city, the City Council will have to find space in a courthouse that already needs room for a newly appointed fifth circuit judge. That judgeship was approved this year by lawmakers to handle the city's growing Circuit Court caseload.

While a new judge would lessen the burden on the district judges, the position would create another hardship for the City Council - figuring out how to cover the cost of a new courtroom.

Mayor Joe Frank said the council is already discussing the matter. The space would include a courtroom, a judge's chamber and a clerk's office, he said.

Harvell said he and the other district judges will meet with the City Council to come up with a plan.

``I don't want to push them,'' Harvell said, ``because all localities are having financial problems. But we'll sit down and talk to them.''

The city's district judges must prove to the state's legislative Committee on District Courts that they need a new judge, Harvell said. So he's been gathering those statistics, and the soon-to-be-released 1997 State of the Judiciary Report from the Supreme Court will back him up.

``The committee has to review the information,'' Harvell said, ``If it feels like we need another judge, it will make a recommendation to the General Assembly, which would then have to pass legislation.''

He said he hopes a recommendation comes in time for the 1999 session.

- Beverly Williams can be reached at 247-4755 or by e-mail at bwilliams@dailypress.com

1997 STATISTICS FROM SUPREME COURT OF VIRGINIA

Newport News' General District Court is one of the busiest in Virginia. Last year its three judges heard more cases than any judge in the state. To handle the increasing caseload, the court is seeking a fourth judge.